Hasan's November/December Treat - Melissa Benoist

Melissa Benoist

Take a good look at Melissa Benoist, she may look familiar. She's made appearances on many of your favorite TV shows. She's actually a singer and actress with led to her starring in Fox's hit series "Glee." She's guest starred on Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife and Homeland, just to name a few.But now she has her own series. Melissa has been cast to play none other than D.C Comics' Supergirl. Now that's BIG! Playing this iconic comic book character is a huge responsibility to comic fans & women in general because their aren't any female super heros with their own series today. This is why Melissa Benoist is our Ha Candy cover girl for November/December.

“If we had not found her, I would have said ‘I don’t want to make
this,'” says executive producer Greg Berlanti of Benoist, who was
casting director David Rappaport’s pick for the role. Like Stephen Amell
(“Arrow”) and Grant Gustin (“The Flash”) before her, he had her
audition first to signal she was The One.

It worked, and Benoist landed one of the most coveted roles of the
2015-2016 season. Here's what she said about the “surreal” feeling
of playing a female superhero.

How did you get the role of Supergirl?

Melissa
Benoist - I believe I was the first girl they saw. I think the same
went for Grant. Ten auditions later, three screen tests later, two and a
half months later… I got the call. Greg championed me the whole time
and was in my corner. Even when I didn’t think the part was mine, he was
always rooting for me. That support goes a long way, especially when
I’m fighting for something I want so badly. His belief in me really
touched me.

Why did you want the part?

Melissa
Benoist - Not only because she’s a strong female and a female hero which I think is so important and will speak to so many people at this time right now in the world. I also was so drawn to her humanity, even though she is an extraterrestrial with powers. I was drawn to how flawed and complicated she is. She’s more complicated than you see in superheroes nowadays. Greg breathed that life into her from the get-go. He even said to me in one of the auditions, “She’s like the Annie Hall of superheroes” — and that sealed the deal for me. I was like, yes!

Do you have any ideas where the show is going creatively?

Melissa
Benoist - I have a few ideas. I know generally who the big bad villain is. I know about Supergirl’s relationships. The whole team has given me a lot of freedom to create her as my own.

Do you feel any pressure?

Melissa
Benoist - Of course I do, but not in a negative way. I’m not necessarily a person who works well under pressure. But in this situation, I am so excited about it. I’m not going to let myself doing anything less than what I think people will want to see.

What does it feel like to play a superhero?

Melissa
Benoist - Not like what you would expect! There are the moments you feel like a badass and you feel empowered. You feel strong and confident. But I have to say there are moments when I step back and look at the bigger picture and I’m on the set with fire and explosions and I’m in the suit and I’ll have to do a double take and be like, “What am I doing?” This is hilarious and surreal and amazing.

“Glee” showed us she can sing and can dance, now on CBS’ Supergirl is showing the world Melissa Benoist can fly too!